Jennifer Hudson's performance was a well-deserved win for singing and acting. Adriana Barraza is a close 2nd--her performance was moving and touching as well as Rinko Kikuchi's. Cate Blanchett was wonderful as expected...but Abigail Breslin's performance is pretty much a 10 year old playing a 10 year old--just mugging and dancing badly...nothing fresh or exciting to this particular child role...something Dakota Fanning could do in her sleep or over the phone. Jennifer gave it her all and it paid off in Oscar gold.

Besides defending Jennifer, I want to know where are the endorsements? Maybe it's too early? Anyway in defense, she and Eddie were the two most spirited actors in a Better than Good musical. Here we go again. The first half/part 1 of the movie was dynamite. What failed was the unevenness of part 2, after the big SONG. After that the songs, the musical numbers just didn't equal that first half.

Now as for Jennifer - anytime someone gets a standing O and applause in the movie, you've seen something special. You have to remember she came from Chicago's ghetto...was raggedy poor and struggling to just get an indie record deal when she took another risk and competed against 800 women to win the role. That ALONE deserves an OSCAR.

Wow, I couldn't disagree with you more. In a fine year for supporting performances, Jennifer was particularly deserving. No, the acting alone wouldn't have been enough, but her singing, especially of the main song, was spectacular. It was amazing to see how far she had progressed since her days on "American Idol," when she showcased her powerful pipes but admittedly needed work. Less than three years later, she made the role of Effie White her own, displaying control, strength, and humility. It was a great part and she stole every scene as the true star of the film. I think Beyonce showed the world how trained and skilled a singer/performer she is the other night at the Oscars by doing a great job on "Listen" and the other nominated songs (much better than she had done at the Grammys). Even so, Jennifer has the stronger belter's voice (if not the bigger range). Eddie Murphy's style of singing was more performance-based; Jamie Foxx barely had any songs in the movie. And poor Anika Noni Rose is apparently a fantastic singer/performer, but you really wouldn't know it from her limited screen time.

If anything else, look at Jennifer's Oscar competition. Abigail Breslin was adorable and had perfect timing, but was it really Oscar-worthy acting? Adriana Barraza did a nice job, but she had a pair of key scenes, and it was more emoting than playing a difficult, unique part. Rinko Kikuchi had a fabulous debut as a deaf-mute, but the nature of the script made me feel like the performance just missed being searing. Cate Blanchett probably gave the strongest overall natural performance of these four, but it was a typical part (for which a lesser actor might not have been nominated, though they also wouldn't have been as good) with memorable but too-brief moments of power. Jennifer deserved it. She ACTED the hell out of that song.

Best PERFORMANCE by an Actress in a Supporting role. She acted, making her an actress. So she was an actress being judged on her performance, not acting. You get what I'm trying to get at right?

Sort of late in asking this question, aren't you...Jennifer has won the SAG, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards, and now the Oscar...so at least the Oscars are in agreement with the other major awards and yes, she deserved it!